The M.A. in Biology is a non-thesis master's program that has a larger course component, but a lesser research component, than the M.S. The M.A. is designed for those students who wish to teach at the secondary or community college level and students who hold full-time jobs.
The admissions requirements for the M.A. are identical to those of the M.S. The course requirements for the M.A. are as follows: BIO 511, 513, 515, 517, 581, 582, 583 and 584. In addition, M.A. students must complete 8 credits of BIO 690 or 4 credits of BIO 690 combined with a relevant, 4 credit course in another discipline such as education, health sciences, chemistry, physics or mathematics. The total number of credits for the M.A. degree is 36, the same as for the M.S. The maximum number of credits that can be transferred from another institution is 9.
M.A. students will earn their 4-8 credits of BIO 690 by working with one or more faculty on a research project. The student will be required to write a report on their BIO 690 research. The departmental graduate committee will determine if students have met the degree requirements for the M.A. in Biology.
